BSRIA welcomes the new Northern Powerhouse MinisterJuly 2016

June Davis, BSRIA Business Manager, BSRIA NorthBSRIA has welcomed Andrew Percy MP as the new Northern Powerhouse Minister, as announced by Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Theresa May. The role sits with the Department for Communities and Local Government.

June Davis, Business Manager for the North of England, BSRIA, said: “It is good to see the new Prime Minister honour this important role which focusses on the ‘northern powerhouse’.

With the recent Brexit announcement and political turmoil – we need to know that there is stability ahead for, not only our members, but the industry at large. BSRIA was calling on government for such clarity – so this appointment goes some way to addressing this.

Announced in the Chancellor’s Budget in March, there are important infrastructure projects taking shape in the north. These include: the HS3 Manchester-Leeds rail link to Crossrail 2; more than £230m being earmarked for road improvements in the north of England, including upgrades to the M62 – between Liverpool and Hull; and the Trans-Pennine road tunnel between Sheffield and Manchester in the Peak District.

Leeds and Manchester are just 40 miles apart but there is no quick and easy way to travel between the two. In the rush hour it can take more than two hours by car and by train, it can be almost an hour. We should kick-start HS3 across the Pennines and slash journey times to just half an hour. But we must not wait decades for change.

These infrastructure upgrades are essential for moving traffic – and, therefore, business around the north and can’t come a day too soon.

We trust Mr Percy will ensure these projects come to fruition.”

BSRIA’s commitment to the north was kick-started in January 2016 with the appointment of June as Business Manager for the North of England. This was an essential step in BSRIA’s continued development of this key area which highlights our commitment to ‘UK plc’ and ‘life north of Watford’.

June’s focus is to develop new business opportunities, customers and prospects for BSRIA in the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ – including maintaining existing business in the region. Her remit is to establish BSRIA’s market position as the leading organisation for its diverse portfolio.